Chapter 3

Hailey stood frozen, her eyes fixed on the receding taillights as Fiona's vehicle vanished into the night, leaving a trail of chaos and uncertainty in its wake. But Hailey's instincts refused to be silenced, her fingers flying across the keypad as she summoned aid with a sense of desperate urgency.

Finally, a responding siren pierced the night air, its wailing crescendo heralding the arrival of a nearby cop. The officer's vehicle screeched to a halt beside Hailey, its tires kicking up a cloud of dust as it came to rest. The cop's eyes narrowed as he took in Hailey's disheveled appearance, his gaze lingering on the tears streaming down her face.

"What's the situation?" he asked gruffly, his voice firm but not unkind, as he stepped out of the vehicle, his hand resting on the butt of his gun.

Hailey's words tumbled out in a frantic cascade, her voice trembling as she recounted the events of the past few minutes. "My friend, my friend is the moving car, she just took off, she's tipsy, please help me, Officer!" she spilled, her words laced with a sense of foreboding and desperation.

The cop's expression turned grave, his eyes flicking towards the darkness into which her's vehicle had vanished. "Okay, calm down, let's go," he suggested, his voice firm but reassuring. "We'll try to catch up to her."

They sped through the night, their tires screeching as they took a sharp turn, but by then they had lost sight of Her's vehicle. Just as they were about to give up hope, a voice crackled over the radio, a lady's voice calling out to available units to handle a reckless driver downtown. Hailey's heart sank as she realized it was Fiona they were talking about.

The cop's eyes locked onto the road ahead, his jaw set in determination. "Hold on," he muttered, his foot pressing down on the accelerator. They sped through the streets, their sirens blaring, until they finally caught up with Fiona's vehicle.

But just as they were about to pull her over, Fiona spotted them and tried to increase her speed. However, her plans were foiled by a couple of obstacles ahead - a pair of police officers blocking her way with their cars. She was trapped, with no escape from the consequences of her actions.

As Fiona realized she was about to be hemmed in, she executed a swift U-turn, her tires screeching in protest as she desperately sought to evade her pursuers. But the cop remained hot on her heels, his voice crackling over the radio frequency in a bid to reason with her. "Madam, please, slow down! Pull over, ma'am!" he implored, his words laced with a growing sense of urgency.

Hailey, growing increasingly desperate, seized the radio mic, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and frustration. "Fiona, what the hell do you think you're doing? Slow down, for God's sake! You're going to get yourself killed!"

Fiona's response was laced with a reckless abandon, her words dripping with a sense of hopelessness. "Don't worry, dear, your car is insured. you be given insurance money. Who cares, right?"

Hailey's retort was incredulous, her voice rising in horror. "Insurance?! Who gives a damn about that?! You're speeding like a maniac, and you'll end up killing yourself! Or worse, someone else!"

Fiona's voice was laced with a bitter resignation, her words barely above a whisper. Does it matter right now? I'm trapped, Hailey. Trapped in this miserable life, with no escape."

Hailey's tone turned pleading, her words tumbling out in a frantic bid to reach her friend. "Fiona, please slow down! You might have an accident! Think of all the things you still want to do, all the places you still want to see!"

Fiona's response was a heart-wrenching whisper, her voice cracking with emotion. "Isn't that better than this hell of a life? Life itself is unfair to me, and I'm tired... am tired of fighting, tired of pretending, tired of living."

Hailey's voice was a gentle counterpoint, her words infused with a sense of compassion and understanding. "I know, I understand how you feel Fiona, but you can't just give up because of a man. He doesn't determine your happiness, sweetie. You do. You have the power to create the life you want, to find joy in the midst of pain."

Fiona's voice cracked as she uttered the words, "But yours does, Hailey. He's been the source of your happiness since college days." A sob escaped her lips, and Hailey's heart ached in response.

"This isn't about me, Fiona. It's about you," Hailey replied, her tone firm but gentle.

Fiona's words tumbled out in a bitter cascade. "My husband fell out of love with me and thinks am less of woman because of his precious moonlight. There's no happiness for me, and I'm done pretending to be fine." Her voice dripped with despair.

"Goodbye, Hailey," Fiona added, her tone final.

Hailey's voice was laced with concern. "What about your son, Fiona?"

Fiona's response was hesitant. "My what?"

"Your son, Leo. What happens to him?" Hailey pressed, her words triggering a spark of consciousness in Fiona's mind.

Fiona's cry of "Oh shit!" was followed by a frantic attempt to hit the brakes, but they remained unresponsive. She tried again, but still, nothing. Panic set in as she notified Hailey of the dire situation.

Hailey's voice remained calm, her words persuasive. "Try the drift method, Fiona. It might work."

Fiona protested, but Hailey's persistence eventually won out. Fiona tentatively attempted the maneuver, and for a moment, it seemed to be working. But then, suddenly...